Take care of yourself

Not a Personnel Manager, but a Personal Manager: the kind of individual who works alongside a movie-star, managing their life for them.

You know the kind of thing; you’d make sure everything worked like a well-oiled machine for your client, so they could spend all their time doing things like making movies, taking part in publicity activities, and generally being movie-starry.

Now, you’re employed as manager, not a therapist, but what do you think you might do if your client gradually began to slide into a trough of not wanting to do much?

After all, it’s your job to keep them productive (and making money, probably, because if their income drops off, so could your own job security).

One simple strategy could be to think of things they’ve done in the past which made them feel positive, and suggest they do them again.

Not exactly rocket science, is it?

Has spending time in the countryside worked for them previously? Help them plan a short trip out of town.

Have they thrived in the presence of certain other people? How about arranging that they get together with them again soon, then?

Has exercise helped them feel good in the past? Schedule time for them to go swimming, perhaps.

If this all sounds nice but impossible (who could afford the luxury of a personal manager?) step back into your own shoes.

The good news is that there is in fact someone who can act for you in this role – and that’s you.

How do you do this?

One simple tip is to think about yourself as if you were someone else – that personal manager.

What would they suggest?

What would they recommend?

What would they plan for you?

You probably instinctively know some of the answers, so why use one or two of them next time you need to?

9 thoughts on “Take care of yourself”

Such a simple idea but how many of us actually do it? It seems so much easier to solve other peoples problems. I am trying to fit in a few exercise sessions each week but it is so easy to find something more important that ‘has’ to be done instead. Well said Jon.

Too true, Jon and Sue – when in the deepest, depths of despair it can be difficult enough to get up out if one’s bed, let alone try and think far enough to be someone else and what they would do…but it’s another little bit of armour we can wear, if we try on someone else’s shoes and imagine what they would do to get moving.

I liked today’s idea a lot. It is useful because it is objective and methodical, which helps when you need a cooler look at things.

There are a couple of things I want to say – not sure where you are supposed to say them. I wanted to contribute to the questionnaires/surveys but by the time I got it together to do so they were already collated and done and results given.

I work full time and I’m really busy. It is a luxury to be able to answer things like this and to mull over them. Could you give a little more time to answer next time?

Helpful things:
Actually taking initiative, picking you up, taking you out for a beer or a film and deciding it for you instead of asking you.
Telephoning and checking up even when not welcome – persevering.

I really like getting Moodnudges every couple of days. Some are more helpful than others obviously. I don’t mind the repetition, because some things are worth saying again and again, in a different way.

Thanks for the reminder…I think we all know how to do it but in my case it is very on and off…..usually goes off when things are going well….which then leads to things going wrong ….which then forces me to turn the thing on again….swings and roundabouts!